This week, the United States Senate will be debating the Military Justice Improvement Act. The controversial legislation would alter the military legal process as it stands. Rather than the "chain of command" handling prosecution, cases will be dealt with by an "impartial military prosecutor."

You should care about this because it will change how the military deals with rape and sexual assault by stifling "retaliation" against those reporting sexual crimes, as well as instating a dishonorable discharge policy for those convicted of sexual assault.

It may not be a situation you are familiar with, but I encourage you to educate yourself and support this legislation as it proceeds this week. Read the facts below and reach out to your state government to let them know why a "Yes" vote matters to you.

"Gee whiz, the level -- the hormone level created by nature sets in place the possibility for these types of things to occur." - Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga. on military sexual assaults at a Senate Armed Services Committee meeting.

About 75 percent of women who were assaulted did not report their attacks.

76 percent of men who were sexually assaulted did not report their attacks.

During the reported period, only 302 service members faced punishment or dismissal as the result of being charged: Less than 2.5 percent of the total suspected number of acts of sexual assaults and rape.

"I was repeatedly drugged and raped by several of my superior officers over a nine-month period. ...There was no one I could turn to because, like so many victims of sexual assault in the military, my attackers were in my chain of command. So I kept my mouth shut." - Testimony of Trina McDonald, who was 18 when she was stationed in Alaska and assaulted.

Feel "like a ho?" Question asked by Andrew Weinstein, the lawyer for one of three U.S. Naval Academy midshipmen accused of sexually assaulting a classmate. During 30 hours of grueling questioning she was also asked, "Were you wearing a bra?" "Were you wearing underwear?" and what her oral sex technique is.

Heath X reported that he was gang raped, told he was lying, threatened, bullied, assaulted again and tried to commit suicide all during his first month in the service. He left, became homeless, was incarcerated and was diagnosed as suffering "intense psychological pain." He was taken to a Naval jail, and then returned to his post where he had to serve with the "gang of molesters" that had attacked him before. He was violently assaulted before and given the day off. He faced court-martial or dishonorable discharge. He was denied benefits because he was dishonorably discharged. He was 18.

Enlisted women report higher rates of harassment, coercion and assault than officers do. Because, we all know that rape is about accidents and sex and not entitlement and status and the opportunity they create.

"If you tell anyone, I'll tell them you're a dyke." - What Michelle Jones' squad leader told her after he sexually attacked her.

"Service members must report rape to their commanders. However, if their commanders take action and prove that rape occurred, they also prove a failure of their own leadership."- Brian Lewis, who was 20 when he was raped while in the Navy.

Men in the military academies have a markedly higher propensity to believe in stereotypical gender roles and rape myths which typically include the ideas that survivors are lying and, if telling the truth, to blame.

Kori Cioca was serving in the US Coast Guard when she was raped by a commanding officer. He also broke her jaw, leaving her with lifelong pain and serious depression. When she attempted to bring him to justice, she was informed by her commanding officer that she'd be court martial as a liar; the man, who granted that an assault happened, but said it did not include rape was restricted to his base for 30 days without pay for a short time. Maybe a book report would have been more effective.

"It is hard to be a Military Sexual Trauma spouse -- not hard to be with a survivor, but hard because at times I feel so helpless to the trauma." Kori Cioca's husband.

55: Number of senators who have not said whether they support the Military Justice Improvement Act or not.